SAPD officer charged with DWI

Updated 11:46 pm, Friday, January 11, 2013

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio police chief William McManus speaks Friday January 11, 2013 at a news conference at police headquarters about a San Antonio police officer that was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated. According to the chief, patrol officer Robert Romo,26, was arrested early Friday morning near Loop 410 and San Pedro.

San Antonio police chief William McManus speaks Friday January 11, 2013 at a news conference at police headquarters about a San Antonio police officer that was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

This is a picture of San Antonio police officer Robert Romo, 26, a four-year veteran. According to San Antonio police chief William McManus, Romo was arrested early Friday January 11, 2013 for driving while intoxicated. The arrest took place near Loop 410 and San Pedro.

This is a picture of San Antonio police officer Robert Romo, 26, a four-year veteran. According to San Antonio police chief William McManus, Romo was arrested early Friday January 11, 2013 for driving while

San Antonio police chief William McManus speaks Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 at a news conference at police headquarters about a San Antonio police officer who was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated. According to the chief, patrol officer Robert Romo, 26, was arrested early Friday morning near Loop 410 and San Pedro.

San Antonio police chief William McManus speaks Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 at a news conference at police headquarters about a San Antonio police officer who was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

A San Antonio police officer who authorities said had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath was charged Friday with drunken driving.

Patrol officer Robert Romo, 26, was swaying from side to side as he walked away from his truck after being pulled over, authorities said, and had a blood alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit.

Romo was arrested at the scene, on Loop 410 near San Pedro Avenue, for the misdemeanor charge, becoming the third Bexar County law enforcement officer arrested in eight days.

Police Chief William McManus said Romo was placed on administrative leave, though the officer had been on leave since an injury in November, when he hurt his right knee pursuing a suspect.

“When I hear about any police officer drunk driving or committing any offense, for that matter, it's concerning,” McManus said at a news conference. “If there is an officer who breaks the law, we will not cover up for him or her.”

An incident report said the arresting officer approached Romo's truck and tried to look inside, but couldn't see past its dark tinted windows. After he knocked several times, a passenger in the truck rolled down the driver's-side window.

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Romo refused to participate in a field sobriety test, but did agree to a breath test, police said.

Romo was charged with driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher; the legal limit is 0.08. He was released from jail Friday morning after posting $1,600 bail.

His arrest is the second of a San Antonio police officer in eight days — officer Curtis W. Lundy, 36, was arrested Jan. 3 by federal authorities, accused of extortion.

On the same day as Lundy's arrest, Susanna Cervantes, 35, a corporal with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, was twice Tasered by police before she was charged with driving while intoxicated, assault of a public servant and retaliation.

Cervantes had been on unpaid leave since her arrest Sept. 28, on a criminal mischief charge. While detained that time, she kicked out two back windows of the patrol vehicle, according to police.

Sheriff Susan Pamerleau called a news conference the day after her January arrest.

“I expect the deputies of this office to conduct themselves in a professional manner and with the highest character,” she was quoted as saying at the time. “When that doesn't happen, I will take swift and decisive action.”

According to San Antonio Express-News archives, there were at least two other arrests of law enforcement officers in Bexar County during 2012.

Bexar County sheriff's Deputy Ruan Harley Matelski, 32, was arrested Sept. 13 on a charge of driving while intoxicated after police said he collided with an 18-wheeler on Interstate 35 when he failed to yield.

He also was charged with failure to stop and render aid, because police said he was found near Eisenhauer Road and Ray Bon Drive.

In April, Bexar County sheriff's Deputy Trenton Wade told police, “my life is over,” according to an incident report, before he was placed under arrest on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

While he never was arrested, former SAPD Sgt. Joseph Myers retired and eventually was indicted following a bizarre instance in February where he was found without pants, allegedly high on cocaine, nearby his wrecked city-issued truck.

He was indicted on charges of tampering with evidence and misappropriation of funds.

In total, two lieutenants, five sergeants and one patrol officer were investigated by Internal Affairs related to the incident.